I’ve already shared the October post, and so you’ll not be surprised to see the sunflowers in full bloom. While technically they don’t fit into a ‘my garden’ post I’m including them as they’re so beautiful and because that’s where they ended up! For £3 they were quite a bargain from M&S and have reminded me how much sense it makes to grow sunflowers. Remember the ones that I grew on the allotment? Goodness, that’s five years ago!

There wasn’t a lot of garden activity this month, but the photos showed we had some great weather. It was a month for trimming and tidying up - the pyracantha below, as usual, tried to have its own way and fight back - and the berries were starting to show.

MOH almost pulled this up as a weed, and while it isn’t and he was told just that, it has grown massively from the small plant it was. It’s definitely one to try and split into smaller plants next year, as it’s such a pretty delicate thing.

The small Christmas tree was starting to bush out, hopefully it doesn’t think it’s coming inside this winter - it most certainly isn’t!

The mock orange in the background desperately needs cutting down, but as there’s as much to cut back as will be left that’s not one we’ll tackle ourselves. The cone shaped yew in front of it was one I took the hedge trimmers too, along with what I call the slopey bush right at the front of the picture. Both are a lot smaller than they were when I started, and my arms got a workout too.

MOH started one of those never ending jobs, and that’s the patio. The grout is crumbling and his plan is to replace that. I think he’s realising just how much he’s taken on, as he also wants to clean the black spot off the slabs. He’s started, and even with the best of intentions I think it’ll take a while before he finishes.

But it’ll look great when he has, and will be the perfect place for cocktails. Yes, I’m really not expecting it to be finished before spring!